Taliban’s enmity with education

11/04/2018

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It is a widely accepted belief that to prevent the spread of terrorism, education must be provided to children worldwide. For this purpose, the international community spends billions of dollars each year to ease education for children, both boys and girls.

But it’s sad to see that Taliban insurgents set on fire two sections of a boy’s school in eastern Nangarhar province early Tuesday morning.The Taliban insurgents entered Hazar Naw High School at about 3am local time and set on fire the administration block of the school, resulting to destruction of school’s documents.

Meanwhile, local officials in Logar province claimed that at least 30 schools were closed by the Taliban in Charkh district in reaction to a government forces’ operation against the militant group in the area.

Up to 12,000 students, including 2,500 girls, were reportedly deprived of education after closing of the schools. The Taliban closed the schools in Charkh district after some of their members were killed and wounded in a night raid by government national security forces.

Education is considered the best weapon to cope with the challenges of terrorism. If Taliban closes schools, it will have taken steps to spoil the talent of our future leaders by snatching books away from their hands and provoking them to buy weapons.

But, the Afghan nation and the government have commitments towards children education in the country.The recent attacks don’t mean that Taliban insurgents can stop Afghans’ strong and brave girls and boys from going to school as Afghan security forces will do everything to address the concerns of the students and their family.

Inaugurating the new school year in 1397, President Ghani termed the new solar year as education year. The president stressed the need to pay more attention to the development of the education sector in Afghanistan. The president and Chief Executive besides other government officials have time and again insisted on education for children.

Comparing to boys, girls’ education faces numerous barriers in Afghanistan, including economic, negative social attitude, early marriage, child marriage and lack of health of sexual health information. To enable half of the society, to realize its potentials, the Afghan government intends to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy based on the lessons learned from the other countries having the same challenges as Afghanistan.

Meanwhile along other institutions such as mass media, civil society, religious scholars play a significant role in expansion of education in the country. Investment in education, or human capital, is the best strategy for economic development and peace process of a country.

To reach peace, stability and recognized as a foundation of other infrastructures; like other pioneer countries, Afghan people, in particular the religious scholars and local elders have to try their bests and ease education to children for a bright future. Meanwhilean educated girl contributes to education of the whole society and the country.